Administrative Services

Policy on Procurements from Businesses Owned by Minorities, Women and
Persons with a Disability

Western Illinois University is subject to the Illinois Procurement Code
for the purchase of goods and services. This law requires that purchase
transactions exceeding $20,000 for professional services and $25,000 for
the purchase of goods and other services be awarded on the basis of formal
competitive procedures. In addition, Western is subject to the Business
Enterprise for Minorities, Females and Persons with Disabilities Act,
which requires that not less than 12 percent of the total dollar of State
contracts be established as a goal to be awarded to businesses owned by
minorities, females, and persons with disabilities. The University is
committed to achieving or surpassing this goal established by statute.
In order to attain this goal and avoid being in violation with the purchasing
laws of the State of Illinois, the University has created a program which
provides the maximum opportunity for assisting and contracting with businesses
owned by minorities, females, and persons with disabilities.

All procurements made by either the University Purchasing Office or individual
department orders shall be entered into only after active solicitation
when practicable of certified vendors appearing on the vendor lists published
by the Department of Central Management Services (CMS). These lists are
available in the Purchasing Office. For purchases not subject to the formal
competitive selection procedures, including all departmental purchases
under $1,500, the University will endeavor to purchase at least 12 percent
of goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, females, and
persons with disabilities.

Faculty and staff members who are aware of any businesses owned by minorities,
females, or persons with disabilities are asked to direct those firms
to the Purchasing Office for assistance in becoming certified with the
State of Illinois and having their names placed on the CMS vendor list.

In all construction contracts bid by the University, the general contractor
will be encouraged throughout the bid solicitation process to utilize
subcontractors that are certified vendors through Central Management Services.
Certified subcontractor names, when available, will be provided in the
bid documents by the Purchasing Office.